Cleft Palate Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

The major symptom of a cleft lip and/or cleft palate is a visible opening in the lip or palate. Other symptoms can occur as a result of an oral-facial cleft include:

Feeding problems (especially with cleft palate)
Problems with speech development
Dental problems, including missing teeth, especially when cleft lip extends to the upper gum area
Recurrent middle ear infections
Hearing problems

Diagnosis

A doctor can diagnose cleft lip or cleft palate by examining the newborn baby. A newborn with an oral-facial cleft may be referred to a team of medical specialists soon after birth. Rarely, a partial or “submucous” cleft palate may not be diagnosed for several months or even years.

Cleft lip and palate are sometimes associated with other medical conditions. Your doctor should be able to tell you whether or not your child’s clefting is part of a “syndrome.” Some syndromes may require treatment in addition to taking care of a cleft lip or palate.

Prenatal diagnosis (diagnosis prior to birth) can also be accomplished using ultrasound examination. Cleft lip is more easily diagnosed via prenatal ultrasound than cleft palate is. Diagnosis can be made as early as 18 weeks of pregnancy. Prenatal diagnosis gives the parents and the medical team the advantage of advanced planning for the baby’s care.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2026 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.